Member of the Month

Biffbarf
February, 2025

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Powder skis mounted dead center?

profile picture
Helzo
Posts: 30 - Karma: 53
Sup guys, I have been skiing for the past five years with skis mounted dead center (park skis orientated(ar7 and candide 2.0)) and I'm going to buy a pair of lib tech UFO 115, and I was thinking to mount them dead center because I want them to be more playful and good for doing tricks on the back country. Does anyone skies with pow skis mounted dead center? Thanks
Apr 2 2019 9:25AM
3 6
profile picture
animator
Posts: 4570 - Karma: 26,372
I mount all my skis dead center except for pow skis. If you do that, their ability to float is decreased significantly. Also, the UFO 115 doesnt have a symmetrical shape, so mounting dead center will essentially put more camber behind you than in front you, which will feel like you mounted in front of center. Unless its a symmetrical ski, like the K2 Catamaran, I wouldnt do it. If its marketed as a freestyle pow ski, it will work best at the recommended mark. Thats why its there
Apr 2 2019 10:11AM
11 0
profile picture
dwt802
Posts: 3298 - Karma: 32,433
Most of the time I’ll mount dead center but for power skis it is definitely better to go back a little, usually recommended on a twin tip pow ski will still be plenty playful.
Apr 2 2019 10:49AM
3 0
profile picture
Rum_Ham
Posts: 1449 - Karma: 4,482
Mount on recommended or max like 2cm forward of rec. they will ski like shit if you go too far from rec in most cases.
Apr 2 2019 10:52AM
9 0
profile picture
FapMasterFLEX
Posts: 608 - Karma: 333
Mount on the line. You really really won't notice a difference unless you ski like Chris Benchetler.
Apr 2 2019 3:19PM
5 0
profile picture
dubmasterskanka
Posts: 800 - Karma: 2,735
If you are using a freestyle twin backcountry ski definitely mount at the rec point.
Apr 2 2019 8:58PM
3 0
profile picture
TheWeaz
Posts: 803 - Karma: 1,903
So I’ve been skiing the ufo 115 a bunch this year.

I mounted mine at the line labled “sweet spot” theres lines about 2cm forward of that labeled center, but its not true center, its about 4cm back from center. The sweet spot line is about 6 cm. I found that line to be great for more all mountain and pow skiing, I wouldn’t go forward of the furthest forward recommended line, but you could mount there for more jib oriented skiing.
Apr 2 2019 9:49PM
6 0
profile picture
shin-bang
Posts: 4106 - Karma: 7,029
If it’s a truly symmetrical pow ski then yes, mount center. I had a couple pairs of KFs that were like that and they did well. You definitely had to ski them with a more upright stance rather than driving them.

This caused serious shin bang for me. So I have since switched to a more directional chargy ski. Problem mostly solved. Pow performance is wayyyy better.
Apr 2 2019 11:43PM
3 1
profile picture
CalumSKI
Posts: 4336 - Karma: 25,520
should you mount center on catamarans or naw
Apr 3 2019 9:08AM
2 2
profile picture
JibbaTheHutt
Posts: 2132 - Karma: 1,597
Townsend says he mounts his QSTs dead centre, about as directional of a ski as you'll get. His reasoning is that it makes it more balanced in the air and he likes a longer tail to rely on when landing big cliffs.

My Kore 105s are mounted about 4cm forward of rec, just feel they suit my style of skiing more at that point. I think so long as you're not miles past camber centre you'll be fine further forward
Apr 3 2019 5:17PM
2 0
profile picture
Hoel
Posts: 45 - Karma: 127
JibbaTheHuttTownsend says he mounts his QSTs dead centre, about as directional of a ski as you'll get. His reasoning is that it makes it more balanced in the air and he likes a longer tail to rely on when landing big cliffs.

My Kore 105s are mounted about 4cm forward of rec, just feel they suit my style of skiing more at that point. I think so long as you're not miles past camber centre you'll be fine further forward

Which QSTs? The 118 has a rec mount point between -4 and -5, I think you can get a lot more directional than that.
Apr 3 2019 5:24PM
5 0
profile picture
bradwalters
Posts: 390 - Karma: 3,143
I've got a pair or 189 hellbents that I mounted true center in my younger years and I absolutely love them. Since it's such a big, heavy, gnarly ski I have found that the center mount helps them ski shorter and have faster response. I've tried a pair of hellbents that were more of a traditional mount and I will have to say that I prefer the center on them.

Some people have said that you will sink your tips on deeper days and on a smaller/narrower powder ski I would say that this would be the case. Since the hellbent is borderline excessive with the rocker and tip height I haven't had a problem with this even on the deeper snow days.

Overall it keeps a massive ski more on the fun and playful side in my opinion.
Apr 3 2019 6:21PM
1 0
profile picture
animator
Posts: 4570 - Karma: 26,372
CalumSKIshould you mount center on catamarans or naw


If you’re Sean Pettit or you ski exactly like him then yeah. Dead center on fat rockered usually hurts their performance more than improves it
Apr 3 2019 6:46PM
4 0
profile picture
morzarella1
Posts: 10 - Karma: 61
Hey, I had the exact same problem as you´ve got right now. But in my case it was the UFO 100 (2018). At first the guy in the shop mounted my bindings somewhat around 1 cm behind the factory´s recommended sweetspot. It was great for powder and all mountain riding, but I have to say that they were pretty directional and skiing switch was pretty unstable especially at higher speeds. I went to a shop again and asked them to mount my bindings at the marked center core line (which is not true center!!!!). I wouldn´t totally recommend that, because the flex behind the binding was pretty stiff compared to the noses. The powder experiences I got with this mounting spot wasn´t the greatest too if you´re used to the mounting spot I had before. It wasn´t as surfy anymore and landings had to be pretty backseated if you don´t want to throw a frontflip out of your landing. So I would recommend mounting your bindings on the recommended sweetspot. Hope I could help you.
Apr 24 2019 4:24AM
1 1
profile picture
skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7914 - Karma: 22,687
I have a pairr of pre-ufo lib techs mounted dead center for playfulness and landing/skiing switch in pow, which they do very well. I don't find it hurts the float a huge amount tbh, but I never had pow skis before these. Also they are 191s, so even centered, they have a decent amount of nose. I like the extra tail length for touring as well, since there is more surface area to grip when on your heels ascending. Kick turns are kind of a pain with the long tails though.
Apr 24 2019 11:59AM
0 0
profile picture
Helzo
Posts: 30 - Karma: 53
skiP.E.I.I have a pairr of pre-ufo lib techs mounted dead center for playfulness and landing/skiing switch in pow, which they do very well. I don't find it hurts the float a huge amount tbh, but I never had pow skis before these. Also they are 191s, so even centered, they have a decent amount of nose. I like the extra tail length for touring as well, since there is more surface area to grip when on your heels ascending. Kick turns are kind of a pain with the long tails though.


I have never had any powder ski before so as you, so I think that I will mount them on -2 or near there(that's pretty close to dead center), I'm very used to park/buterry skis

Thanks bro
Apr 24 2019 5:30PM
1 0
profile picture
CalumSKI
Posts: 4336 - Karma: 25,520
HelzoI have never had any powder ski before so as you, so I think that I will mount them on -2 or near there(that's pretty close to dead center), I'm very used to park/buterry skis

Thanks bro


me too
i think im gonna mount mine at around -2 or -2.5
Apr 24 2019 5:39PM
2 0
profile picture
Hoel
Posts: 45 - Karma: 127
CalumSKIme too
i think im gonna mount mine at around -2 or -2.5


The Chetlers work wonderfully at -3, still super easy to flick around. Especially the new ones, as they are so light.
Apr 25 2019 2:37AM
1 0
profile picture
skierman_jack
Posts: 1671 - Karma: 17,549
HoelThe Chetlers work wonderfully at -3, still super easy to flick around. Especially the new ones, as they are so light.


I would mount at the factory designated point. It also depends on the amount of tail rocker the ski has. You don’t want to do what I did: I mounted my K2 Pettitors -4 and they ski great but in powder if I get just a little back seat they wash out.
Apr 25 2019 7:59AM
1 0
profile picture
Hoel
Posts: 45 - Karma: 127
SkylineGTR_R32I would mount at the factory designated point. It also depends on the amount of tail rocker the ski has. You don’t want to do what I did: I mounted my K2 Pettitors -4 and they ski great but in powder if I get just a little back seat they wash out.


This is exactly what I’m saying. The mount point on the Chetlers (that Callum has been talking about) is around -3. IME it offers a solid balance between floatation and playfulness.
Apr 25 2019 12:49PM
1 0
All times are Eastern (-5)